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Expression Of Matrix Metalloproteinases In Naegleria Fowleri And Their Role In Degradation Of The Extracellular Matrix, Charlton Lam
Expression Of Matrix Metalloproteinases In Naegleria Fowleri And Their Role In Degradation Of The Extracellular Matrix, Charlton Lam
Theses and Dissertations
Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba found in freshwater lakes and ponds that is the causative agent of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been described in protozoa, such as Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma brucei, and Balamuthia mandrillaris, and have been linked to their increased motility and invasive capability by degrading components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In addition, MMPs are often upregulated in tumorigenic cells and have been attributed as responsible for the metastasis of certain cancers. In the present study, in vitro experiments indicated that MMPs are linked functionally to the ECM degradation process. …